This week, your fabulous friends at Gary Germer and Associates bring you this exquisite French Empire chair made around the time of the Third French Republic, 1870. Renowned French architects Charles Percier and Pierre Francois Leonard Fontaine originally designed this chair in 1812 for Napoleon I. This particular chair was made later for the court of Napoleon III, nephew of Napoleon I. Percier and Fontaine, who were reportedly lovers (gasp!), were among the founders and principal exponents of the neoclassic Empire style and the primary architects for the court of Napoleon and Josephine. This chair is constructed out of rosewood and decorated with gilt bronze mountings in the shapes of suns, hunting dogs, and griffins. Our example was reupholstered but the original covering, of which we have a piece, was done in silk fabric with gold thread bumblebees. Bumblebees were Napoleon’s symbol.
Of course, we had hoped we had an original Napoleon I example! This chair so closely resembles the original designs shown in Percier and Fontaine’s book titled Recueil de decorations interieures (1801 and 1812; “Collection of Interior Decoration”), but we believe we have a slightly later example because of the type of ormolu mountings attached to the chair. We’ve had three separate experts look at it, including Sotheby’s in New York, and we all agree it’s from the era of Napoleon III.
This chair screams out to have its original fabric upholstery replicated so that it can be restored back to its early magnificence! Structurally, the chair is in really fine condition and all of the ormolu is present. Contact us if you’d like more information. Watch this site for weekly updates regarding unique finds, musings, and tips on caring for your treasured items!
